Immediate review of youth minimum wage

Work is to begin immediately to review the youth minimum wage, Youth Affairs Minister and Associate Minister of Labour
Laila Harrr announced today.

The adult minimum wage was today increased from $7 an hour to $7.55.

Laila HarrT said the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Department of Labour would report back to Cabinet by the end of
February on options to improve the youth minimum wage.

Other relevant ministries and sector groups will be consulted as part of the review.

'Options include the introduction of a universal minimum wage, dropping the threshold age at which the adult minimum
wage applies from its current level of twenty, and improving the level of the youth wage compared to the level of the
adult rate.

'There is a simple point of principle at stake with the youth minimum wage. No one should be paid less for doing exactly
the same work as someone working along-side them doing exactly the same work.

'The principle that people should not be discriminated against on the basis of their age is now firmly established,'
Laila Harre said.

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